Before his death, Leodan developed a plan to send his four children to the four corners of the known world with four separate guardians. Leodan hoped that eventually his four children would reunite and reclaim the Acacian throne.
Hanish Mein, the chieftain of the Mein, is supposed to be the bad guy in Acacia. But, to Durham's credit, the line between the good guy and bad guy is so blurred that I ended up cheering for the bad guy. It didn't hurt that Hanish was this incredibly intelligent, charismatic, and extremely muscular man.
Another element which sets Acacia apart from traditional fantasies is the use of magic. There is no magic (or fantastical elements) through most of the book. I was beginning to think it wasn't a fantasy novel. But towards the end of the novel, magic is used. There still weren't any orcs, dwarves, or goblins running around. However, Durham plans to release two more novels to make a trilogy. So for you orc lovers, there is still hope.
In conclusion, I loved this book because there are so many ways it can be examined, critiqued, and explored. A three hundred-page thesis could be written on the race and gender relations alone.
Time magazine has listed this novel as 18th of its 50 things to do this summer. I agree. In fact, I read most of this novel on a bus trip to a science fiction convention. It made the horrible ten-hour Greyhound delay almost enjoyable! If you only read one novel this summer, I suggest you make it Acacia.
Article comments
1 - Katie McNeill
Great review! I'll have to pick this one up
2 - Carole McDonnell
Wow, you made me want to read this. Great summary of the book and wonderful insights in reviewing it. -C